Ebola: Encouraging and alarming reports from West Africa

Euronews

While efforts are picking up to prevent and tackle Ebola in West Africa, the head of the UN’s emergency response mission has warned that a long, difficult road lies ahead.

Speaking in Liberia, Anthony Banbury cautioned the need for vigilance but hailed signs of the epidemic slowing there.

“We are all extremely pleased I think, gratified, that there have been some significant improvements in some areas with reducing transmissions, fewer people catching Ebola, fewer people dying from Ebola,” he said.

But as the World Health Organisation expressed optimism about two vaccines being tested, reports suggested Sierra Leone’s infection rate is soaring.

French researchers meanwhile are developing an Ebola test, resembling a traditional pregnancy kit, which gives results in just 15 minutes.